Killings rise across Terrebonne, Lafourche in 2012

Wednesday

Jan 2, 2013 at 8:41 PM

Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes lost 13 residents to homicides in 2012, two more than a year earlier.

Katie UrbaszewskiStaff Writer

Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes lost 13 residents to homicides in 2012, two more than a year earlier.The killings stemmed from drugs, self-defense, anger, robbery, mental illness, neglect, a domestic dispute or unknown reasons, according to authorities and family members.One case remains unsolved in Terrebonne. And though deputies have not arrested anyone responsible for the killings of a mother and her two children in a Lockport apartment, the Sheriff's Office considers that case solved as it builds evidence against a man in custody.Eight people were killed in Terrebonne Parish, including two in Houma.Lafourche saw six violent deaths, with one in Thibodaux.The unsolved case involves the deaths of Troy Hebert, 29, and Alyce Chauvin, 24. Relatives found them shot to death in their Houma home days after they died, Houma Police Maj. Malcolm Wolfe said.The delay between the shooting and the investigation hinders the case because deputies can't question witnesses at the site, Wolfe said.Also, “we believe it was a drug-related murder,” which also makes detective work difficult, he said.While police question family and close friends in other murder cases, “when you're involved in drug-related activity you're involved with so many associates that so many people are unaware of,” Wolfe said.Wolfe said detectives are following a few leads on the case, but he declined to release details.In Lockport, Sheriff Craig Webre has accused David Brown, 35, of Houma, of entering Jacquelin Nieves' apartment after meeting her briefly at a party and murdering her and her two children, 6-year-old Gabriela and 20-month-old Izabela. However, Brown has not been charged with that crime.“He cannot be released from prison. We're not under any time-sensitive deadline to rush the investigation,” Webre said. Because Brown was on probation when deputies arrested him for breaking into Nieves' neighbor's apartment, he is not allowed to leave the Lafourche Parish jail.Deputies found and arrested Brown at his Lockport home, temporary housing provided by his employer, Webre said.Detectives are waiting on test results to reveal if any of the Nieveses were sexually assaulted before they charge Brown, Webre said.“If we find there is evidence to support that crime, that'll be an additional charge,” he said.The case against Brown is strong, Webre said. Throughout detectives' investigation, they recovered “physical, circumstantial, testimonial, video and DNA evidence. I imagine we have every type of evidence you can have in some shape or form.”However, detectives do not have a motive. Brown acknowledges he came into Nieves' neighbor's apartment, but he has not confessed to any killings.Jamonta Miles, 15, Thibodaux, was the first person slain last year, on Jan. 2 in Raceland while he was out with his friends. Byron Thomas, the man who police say pulled the trigger, acted in self-defense and won't face prosecution, a parish grand jury determined.Angel Thomas, less than 2 months old, was starved to death and died Feb. 9 as a result of her mother's neglect, the Lafourche Sheriff's Office and coroner allege. The child's maternal grandfather said the baby had stopped suckling her mother's milk, but Webre has said the fact that Latisha Thomas didn't seek help constitutes the second-degree murder charge the mother faces.Ron Pierre, 40, Houma, was found dead on the floor of a trailer May 15 after a drug deal gone bad, Houma Police said. Jerome Jones, who is facing first-degree and attempted first-degree murder charges in the case, has not gone to trial after authorities tracked him down in Houston.Mary Voisin, 47, was shot to death in her home June 7 by her brother Joseph Voisin, the Sheriff's Office said. Her boyfriend was shot but survives. Joseph Voisin, whose brother said he is a paranoid schizophrenic who was off his medication, faces second-degree and attempted-second-degree murder charges. Douglas Turner, 26, Thibodaux, was stabbed Aug. 18 at Sanders Street and Gerald T. Peltier Drive as he and Jocobe Henderson argued. The fight may have been over a girl, family members said. Henderson is charged with second-degree murder and is awaiting trial. Tiffany Pledger, 41, was shot three times in her Houma home before her husband, Kenneth Pledger, 46, turned the gun on himself, the Sheriff's Office said. Their bodies were found Aug. 22 in a master bedroom.Hung Vo, 49, Houma, unexpectedly found himself in the line of fire June 24 after a botched drug deal. He was not involved in the drug deal or the ensuing argument, investigators and witnesses said. But Richard Verdin Jr., of Dulac, argued about the transaction with another person and killed Vo with one shot to the chest, police said. Verdin awaits trial.Tyrone Walls Jr., 25, Gray, was robbed and killed Sept. 23 inside his mobile home by two 16-year-olds and a 12-year-old, the Terrebonne Sheriff's Office said. The youths' names have not been released because they are minors.

Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.